It is recommended that you obtain a calculator that you can use during the whole semester.  You may already have a scientific calculator that will work in this class, or you may be able to borrow one from a friend.  All graphing calculators have statistical functions, but a lot of scientific calculators do, too, and are easier to use.  If you need to buy a new calculator, you should be able to get one for under $15. 

 

 

To determine if a calculator is appropriate, look for the symbols for the mean

 () and standard deviation (either s or σn-1).  NOTE:  In this class, we always need the sample standard deviation, not the population standard deviation.

 

 

All students are responsible for knowing how to operate their calculators.  The calculator’s operating manual should have instructions on how to compute the mean and standard deviation.  And simple, easy to follow directions often appear on a small card that fits on the cover of scientific calculators.

 

 

If you do not have either the manual or the card for your calculator, you can sometimes find them online.  Try going to the manufacturer’s website, or do a web search for “calculator manual” and the brand and model number that is printed on the face of the calculator (e.g. “calculator manual TI-30Xa”).

 

 

Instructions for some common models of calculators:

Example Data Set: 1, 1, 1, 4, 7, 7, 7    sample standard deviation = 3

  

Casio fx-115MS 

·         Click on the Mode button twice until you see “SD”. Select 1. This puts the calculator in Statistics Mode.

·         Enter the first number, 1.

·         Hit the M+. (n= 1 will appear in the window)

·         Enter the second number, 1.

·         Hit the M+ key.  (n=2 will appear in the window)

·           . . . . .

·         Enter the last number, 7.

·         Hit the M+ key.  (n=7 will appear in the window)

·         Hit shift, 2. (This invokes the S-Var option.)

·         Hit 1 for the sample mean. Hit Enter.

·         Hit 3 for the sample standard deviation that we will use in class. Hit Enter.

 

TI-30Xa

·         Enter the first number, 1.

·         Hit the Σ+ (Sigma+) key. ( n=1 will appear in the window)

·         Enter the second number, 1.

·         Hit the Σ+ (Sigma+) key.  (n=2 will appear in the window)

·           . . . . .

·         Enter the last number, 7.

·         Hit the Σ+ (Sigma+) key.  (n=7 will appear in the window)

·         Hit 2nd x2 (by hitting the 2nd key you are actually selecting the x-bar written above the key.) This gives you the mean.

·         Hit 2nd sqrt(x). This gives you the sample standard deviation which we will use in class.

·         Make sure you turn your calculator off and on for new data sets.

 

 

TI-30XIIS

·         Hit 2nd, Data (this means really that you are entering the STAT menu)

·         Select 1-Var.

·         A blank screen will appear. Select Data again. X1 will appear.

·         Enter in 1. Scroll down, you will see FRQ=1. Scroll down.

·         You will see X2=. Enter 1. Scroll down, you will see FRQ=1. Scroll Down.

·          . . . .

·         Enter the last number 7. Scroll down, you will see FRQ=1.

·         Select STATVAR.

·         Use the right arrow key to get: n, x-bar, and sx. If I ask you to compute the standard deviation by hand, I am looking for sxnot the other listed values.

 

TI-36X

·         Hit the 2nd and x<>y button. (This puts us in Statistics 1 mode.)

·         Enter the first number, 1.

·         Hit the Σ+ (Sigma+) key. (1 will appear in the window)

·         Enter the second number, 1.

·         Hit the Σ+ (Sigma+) key.  (2 will appear in the window)

·           . . . . .

·         Enter the last number, 7.

·         Hit the Σ+ (Sigma+) key.  (7 will appear in the window)

·         Hit 2nd x2 (by hitting the 2nd key you are actually selecting the x-bar written above the key.) This gives you the mean.

·         Hit 2nd sqrt(x). This gives you the sample standard deviation which we will use in class.

·         Make sure you turn your calculator off and on for new data sets.

 

 

 TI-36X Pro

·         Press the data button (this will give you a table to input data.)

·         Press data again, scroll down and select option 4: Clear ALL (this will clear out previous data.)

·         Input the first number, 1, and press enter (this will put 1 in the first row of L1.)

·         Input the second number, 1.

·         Continue to input the data.

·         Input the last number, 7.

·         Press 2nd then data, scroll down and select option 2: 1-Var Stats.

·         Press enter three times (this will bring up a window titled 1-Var: L1, 1.)

·     You can now see the mean  and the sample standard deviation .